Murray and Lyon counties establish joint drainage authority for Judicial Ditch 27
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Summary
Murray and Lyon County boards, seated jointly June 3, adopted a Findings and Order establishing a Joint Drainage Authority under Minnesota Statutes Section 103E.235 to redetermine benefits for Judicial Ditch 27, appointed viewers and designated Murray County the majority county.
The Murray and Lyon County boards, seated jointly, adopted a Findings and Order on June 3 to establish a Joint Drainage Authority for Judicial Ditch 27 and to continue a redetermination of benefits under Minnesota Statutes Section 103E.235. The action follows viewers’ findings that prior benefit rolls do not reflect present-day land uses, wetland protections and land values.
The order states the original determinations predate several laws and programs protecting wetlands and that since the last determination additional lands appear to benefit from JD 27. The Boards cited changes in land use, drainage practices and land values as reasons to update the benefits roll.
The joint board named initial members to the Joint Drainage Authority, listing Murray County Commissioners Loy Woelber (District 1), Mark Carlson (District 2), Dennis Welgraven (District 3), Roger Zins (District 5) and Lyon County Commissioner Crowley (District 4). The order designates Murray County as the “majority” county to coordinate administration and management of the resulting joint system under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 103E.
The board also ratified prior orders and viewer appointments and appointed Scott Henderson as a replacement viewer after earlier viewers Bryan Murphy and Aaron Goemann were no longer available. The order directs the Murray County Auditor-Treasurer to secure required viewer qualifications and oaths and to proceed with further redetermination work.
The motion to adopt the Findings and Order was made by Commissioner Roger Zins (Murray County) and seconded by Commissioner Jackie Meier (Murray County). The motion passed; the roll call showed all Murray County commissioners voting Aye and a majority of Lyon County commissioners voting Aye, with one abstention recorded in Lyon County.
Next steps include completing viewer qualifications and continuing the redetermination process as directed in the order. The joint authority will remain in place until modified or dissolved by future action of both county boards.